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Diamond Platnumz is officially back on Comedy Store UG’s lineup, but many fans have one question after the latest announcement: What happens to the tickets they bought for the postponed anniversary show?

Comedy Store this week unveiled its Retro Tour, set for October 30, 2026, at Lugogo Cricket Oval, with the Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz headlining the event.

Rwanda’s The Ben and Kenyan comedian Eric Omondi also remain on the bill, alongside a long list of Ugandan musicians and comedians.

The announcement follows Comedy Store’s May 29 decision to postpone its 10th anniversary celebration, which had been scheduled for June 5, because of the Ebola outbreak.

Offering clarity at the time, Comedy Store founder Alex Muhangi told Sanyuka TV that fans had already snapped up more than 5,000 tickets and reserved numerous tables ahead of the anniversary celebration.

He emphasized that they had postponed the event rather than canceled it.

The show was going to happen this Friday at Cricket Oval. People had paid. Over 5,000 people had bought tickets. Tables had also been bought.

Muhangi also assured customers that Comedy Store would refund anyone who no longer wished to attend when the event returned because every ticket sale went through the online platform.

Anyone who insists on getting their money back will get it because we have the records. The good thing is that they were all buying online. When one buys a ticket online, your phone number is captured, so we can reach out to them.

He added that Comedy Store would announce a new date once authorities allowed concerts to resume.

Following Comedy Store’s Retro Tour announcement on July 22, several fans turned to the comments section, asking whether the tickets they bought for the postponed anniversary celebration will still grant them entry to the October 30 show.

Organizers had not issued a public response at the time of publication.

Ruger says he has never chosen a partner based on how much money she makes.

For the Afrobeats singer, financial stability is not part of the equation because he believes he already has enough money of his own.

That view came up during a livestream with streamer Shank, where he reflected on his dating life and admitted he has been in relationships with women who were unemployed.

A woman’s financial status does not matter to me. I am rich. I have dated girls who did not make money before. They just sleep and wake up.

If money is not what catches his attention, then what is?

Ruger says he is simply looking for someone who is funny.

The conversation later shifted to marriage, with the singer admitting he is beginning to see the appeal of settling down.

I keep ordering takeouts because there is no one at home to cook for me. That is one of the reasons I want to settle down.

Before wrapping up the livestream, Ruger also revealed that he has earned more than $2 million so far this year.

Years after visiting Kenya, Skai Jackson has found herself answering questions about comments she made during that trip after an old video resurfaced online.

The former Disney actress recalled visiting a rural village in 2018, where she said mirrors were difficult to find and some children first saw their reflections through her phone.

The clip spread widely and triggered criticism from Kenyans who felt it painted an unfair picture of the country.

Jackson responded with a video of her own, saying the discussion had overlooked an important detail.

I did not mean any disrespect by it. I went to a very tiny village, and I was only sharing what I experienced there.

She said the village represented only one part of her journey and insisted she never intended to describe Kenya through that single experience.

Jackson added that she still remembers the trip fondly and appreciates the people she met along the way.

She closed her response by apologising to anyone who felt hurt by her remarks.

I truly loved my experience. I was not trying to be funny or disrespect anybody. I just wanted to apologise, and I hope you guys forgive me.

Although the apology answered some of the criticism, the conversation has continued online as people debate how public figures should talk about places they visit.

The Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) has directed the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Mariam Wangadya to appear before on Friday, 24 July 2026 after failing to attend a meeting examining the commission’s Auditor General’s report.

The committee members uncovered what they described as a breakdown in the institution’s leadership.

During the meeting chaired by Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, officials from UHRC admitted that they not held a formal commission meeting since March 2026 despite the law requiring the body to oversee the institution’s work.

Nkunyingi questioned the acting Secretary and Accounting Officer, Kamadi Byonabye over governance and accountability at the commission, noting that although he assumed office after the retirement of the former accounting officer, Margaret Lucy Ejang, he remained responsible for accounting for public funds under Article 164 of the Constitution.

Kamadi revealed that he had personally informed Wangadya about the committee invitation and that she had indicated the Auditor General’s report concerned technical matters.
Nkunyingi warned that should she fail to attend the meeting; Parliament would invoke lawful measures including summons or warrants to compel her to attend.
“We are giving her and the commission a second chance; the matters to handle are very, very concerning,” he said.

Commissioner Simeo Nsubuga confirmed that the commissioners last met in March and acknowledged that no subsequent commission meetings had been convened.
“We are supposed to have a monthly commission meeting. The commission meeting is the top management decision-making body of the commission,” Nsubuga said before admitting that he had never formally written to remind the chairperson or fellow commissioners to convene another meeting.

The revelations prompted concern from committee members with Martin Muzaale (NRM, Buzaaya County) questioning how the commission had continued executing its constitutional mandate, including submitting reports to Parliament without meeting as a governing body.

Elgon North County Member of Parliament, Hon. Gerald Nangoli said the commission appeared dysfunctional, arguing that months without meetings meant Ugandans could no longer be certain the institution was operating effectively.
The committee also heard that the Commission’s tribunal system has effectively stalled because, under the Uganda Human Rights Act and the commission’s rules, only the chairperson can preside over tribunal proceedings.

Commissioner Shifrah Lukwago explained that without the chairperson, complaints requiring tribunal hearings cannot proceed.
The committee also examined delays in hearing human rights complaints.

The Director of Complaints, Investigations and Legal Services at UHRC, Pauline Nansamba disclosed that the commission last held tribunal sessions in December 2025 after exhausting the budget allocated for hearings.

Wangadya submitted a notice of resignation to President Yoweri Museveni on 06 July 2026.

However, the Attorney General has advised that her resignation will only take effect upon formal acceptance by the appointing authority, meaning she remains the substantive Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission.

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A comprehensive review of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act is required to clearly define governance and operational roles at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards.

According to former Bwamba County Member of Parliament, Hon. Richard Gafabusa, the bureau has relegated its core mandate of enforcing quality standards for fair trade which has exposed the public to substandard products.
“The dysfunctional state of affairs at UNBS has resulted in the proliferation of poor quality and counterfeit goods, eroded investor confidence and frustrated industrialisation and the efficient enforcement of standards laws and regulations,” Gafabusa said.

Gafabusa who raised the same concerns while he served in the 11th Parliament made his submission while appearing before the Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives chaired by Hon. Boniface Okot on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.

Gafabusa said that overlapping roles at UNBS between its National Standards Council and its management have created conflict, delays in decision-making and weakened accountability.

He also cited lengthy certification timeliness which have delayed market access by manufacturers and affected their business competitiveness.
“It is not a guarantee that if a manufacturer follows up their application after eight months or one year, that one inspection will lead to certification. The process can take over three years and this had made many SMEs give up or put their goods on the market without certification,” he said.

He called for strengthening of the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity to Standards (PVoC) programme through electronic certification, artificial intelligence and enhanced collaboration with Uganda Revenue Authority and border agencies.
“Because of inadequate personnel at UNBS, they decided to outsource this verification and signed contracts with companies to do it on their behalf. In countries like India, Japan and China,some of these are briefcase companies and do not exist,” Gafabusa added.

He also emphasised the need to strengthen regional laboratories and decentralise testing, certification and inspection services.
The Chairperson of Uganda Small Scale Industries Association, Peter Kasirye said that many small-scale manufacturers have paid identical certification fees for similar products in a single production line which has impacted negatively on investment.
“We have compliant manufacturers watching uncertified competitors undercut them on the same shelf because the cost of doing things the right way is not yet matched by consistent enforcement against those who are not properly certified,” Kasirye said.

Kasirye said transparency in fees and access to standards documents in local languages will go a long way in improving public confidence in the bureau.
“We further ask that government considers harmonising our standards with our regional neighbours, so that our manufacturers are not disadvantaged in the very markets we hope to conquer together as the East African Community,” he added.

Hon. Okot asked the representatives of the manufacturers to suggest affordable rates for the certification and standardisation process to be considered by UNBS.
“You indicated that these services are still costly. What proposals do you have for an amount, that when charged to SMEs, they will be able to thrive? We shall present these proposals when we interact with UNBS,” Okot said.

Pader District Woman MP, Hon. CD Lowila emphasised the need to address the staffing gaps at the bureau which she said can improve the turnaround time on processing certification applications for manufacturers.

Hon. Wilber Manyisa (NRM, Nakaseke North) called for equity by the bureau in processing requests from local manufacturers and foreign investors alike.

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My first lesson in digital literacy happened when I was trying to apply for higher education abroad!

Much of the conversation today about the future of work focuses on artificial intelligence and digital transformation, underscoring the growing importance of digital skills. As I listen to these intriguing discussions, I think about the many rural young people whose realities remain far removed from this vision.

Reflecting on my own journey, growing up in a rural community a few years ago: digital skills were never part of my education. Access to computers was extremely limited, and internet connectivity was almost non-existent. Even by the time I completed secondary school, owning a smart phone was far beyond my reach.

My story is just one example of a much larger reality. For many learners from rural communities in Uganda, digital exclusion starts long before adulthood; it starts in school.

The Rural Digital Divide Begins in School

The primary reason rural learners complete school without basic digital competencies is simple: digital literacy is still treated as an afterthought within Uganda’s education system. As long as it remains optional, governments and school administrators will continue to deprioritise the infrastructure and resources needed to make it accessible.

The consequences are visible in schools across the country. Computer laboratories are either non-existent or woefully inadequate. Even where they exist, a single lab with a few dozen machines is expected to serve hundreds of students.

The numbers are sobering. A recent UNICEF digital readiness assessment of secondary schools, conducted in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, found that while approximately 80% of schools reported having a computer laboratory, the average ratio stood at just one digital device for every 63 students. Let that sink in: one device for an entire classroom of children.

Connectivity compounds the crisis. The same report revealed that 39% of secondary schools are completely off-grid, while 41% face unstable electricity. A separate study in rural northern Uganda found that over 17,500 primary schools remain offline, with most relying on hazardous lighting such as kerosene. And in many schools, even when infrastructure exists, the shortage of trained teachers trained to deliver digital education cripples any meaningful progress.

I came to understand the cost of this exclusion when I was offered an opportunity to apply for graduate studies at a university in Costa Rica. The application required basic digital competencies: typing, navigating websites, communicating via  email. These were skills my peers had acquired years earlier. For me, they represented an entirely unfamiliar language.

We cannot expect rural youth to seize digital opportunities if their first encounter with technology comes at university, in the workplace, or if they are lucky as entrepreneurs. The journey to building future-ready citizens must begin early, making digital literacy an integral part of learning from primary school onwards.

What if Digital Literacy Became a Core Subject?

Introducing digital literacy as a foundational subject at the primary school level would allow children from diverse demographics to develop confidence with technology from an early age. They would gradually learn age-appropriate skills such as basic computer operations, digital safety, typing and information literacy.

With a strong foundation already established in primary school, compulsory digital literacy throughout secondary education would then ensure that every learner is equipped with intermediate skills such as digital content creation, internet navigation, responsible use of technology and other competences.

Once digital literacy is made a core subject, it would even provide a stronger basis for the government’s sustained investment in digital infrastructure in schools, including training digitally competent teachers in using technology.

For me, the consequences of limited digital skills were continuous. I spent my first two semesters learning basic computer skills. While my peers completed coursework within hours, I often needed extra days to type and format the same assignments.

The effect extended beyond the classroom. During my first year at the university, many of my classmates applied for entrepreneurship funding opportunities online. Some secured funding to start their businesses that they continue to operate today. I, however, missed many of such opportunities because I lacked the digital skills to access, navigate and apply for them.

The government, development partners, educational institutions, and the private sector actors have a shared responsibility to ensure that rural youth acquire the digital skills they need.

A Shared Responsibility for Future-Ready Rural Youth

With the learners acquiring strong foundational digital literacy in primary and secondary schools, development partners and other ecosystem actors could then focus their investments on equipping youths with advanced digital skills.

Organisations such as the Mastercard Foundation, Outbox, Refactory Academy, Women in Technology Uganda, Enabel, and the World Bank are already equipping young people with advanced digital skills. But how many rural youths are fully able to take advantage of these opportunities when they begin with limited or no foundational digital literacy?

If rural youth are equipped with basic and intermediate digital skills while they are still at school, this would enable them to deepen their competencies in critical areas such as coding, artificial intelligence, digital entrepreneurship, e-marketing and other emerging technologies.

In my case, once I acquired the digital skills, I was able to apply for and secure an opportunity to pursue master’s studies in the United Kingdom. The same digital competencies allowed me to identify professional opportunities, submit applications online, and ultimately secure employment with an international organization.

A truly shared future for rural youth will begin with shared access to digital skills.

The real question is whether action will be taken quickly enough to ensure that every young person, regardless of their background, has an equal opportunity to participate in the digital future.

 

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